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No jail for former Camden County officer accused of fathering teen's baby

Rafael Martinez Jr., 33, received a five-year probationary term Friday after admitting guilt to endangering the wefare of a child, court records show.

The Blackwood man was charged in September with the sexual assault of a minor between the ages of 13 and 16, as well as endangering the welfare of a child through sexual conduct.

Martinez and the baby's mother identified the officer as the father in a conversation with a social worker after the infant's birth in August 2017, according to an affidavit of probable cause of the officer's arrest.

"They both admitted to the (social worker) that Martinez is the father of E.L.'s child and he signed the birth certificate confirming such," the affidavit said.

The girl, identified only as E.L., told investigators she and Martinez "had sex on multiple occasions at his home." The sex allegedly occurred during a period from Sept. 1, 2016, to Aug. 18, 2017, according to a criminal complaint issued in Gloucester Township.

Court-ordered DNA testing also confirmed Martinez was the father, according to the affidavit.